Secure storage systems and methods

• US 9,797,680 B2
• Filed: 12/13/2013
• Issued: 10/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Gunbox
• Original Assignee: RPH Engineering LLC
• Inventors: Hyde, Ryan P., Morrise, Jacob S., Colton, Michael R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Edwards, Anthony Q
• Application Number:
  US14/106,684
• Publication Number:
  US 20150168099A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,411 Days
• Field of Search: 206317
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/02 Interior fittings; Means, e.g. inserts, for holding and packing articles
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/18 Devices to prevent theft or loss of purses, luggage or hand carried bags
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 33/0209 Pouch or pocket like containers for small arms covering all or most of the small arm
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 33/041 for connecting a holster to a belt, webbing or other object
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 33/06 Containers for carrying smallarms, e.g. safety boxes, gun cases F41C33/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00174 Electronically operated locks; Circuits therefor; Nonmechanical keys therefor, e.g. passive or active electrical keys or other data carriers without mechanical keys mechanical locks with electric permutation E05B49/00; arrangements for sensing or reading record carriers G06K7/00; electronic switching H03K17/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A secure storage system may provide secure, portable, and rapidly accessible storage for articles such as firearms. Such a system may have a shell with first and second shell members that can be closed to keep the articles secure, or opened to provide accessibility. A locking mechanism may be used to lock the shell in the closed configuration. The locking mechanism may be controlled by a wireless receiver that receives a signal to unlock the shell. The shell may have a signal-permeable layer that enables the signal to pass through the shell. The first and second shell members may have mounting features that enable articles within the shell to be secured to the shell in a variety of positions and/or orientations. The system may also include a location sensor that detects the location of the shell and notifies the user when the shell is outside an approved zone.

Claims

1. A secure storage system comprising:

a shell having a closed configuration in which the shell defines an interior space generally inaccessible from outside the shell, and an open configuration in which the interior space is accessible, the shell comprising;

a first shell member;

a second shell member; and

a joint that movably couples the first shell member to the second shell member to enable the shell to move between the closed configuration and the open configuration;

a locking mechanism within the interior space, the locking mechanism having a locked position in which the locking mechanism restricts motion of the shell to the open configuration, and an unlocked position in which the locking mechanism permits motion of the shell to the open configuration; and

a first wireless receiver within the interior space, wherein the first wireless receiver receives a first signal wirelessly and, in response to receipt of the first signal, initiates a first action selected from the group consisting of causing the locking mechanism to move from the locked position to the unlocked position, and causing a first notification to be transmitted to a user;

wherein the first shell member comprises;

a metal layer comprising a recess and a first aperture, the first aperture being aligned with the first wireless receiver; and

a signal-permeable layer positioned within the recess, the signal-permeable layer covering the first aperture to enclose the first wireless receiver within the interior space in a manner that permits transmission of the first signal through the first aperture to the first wireless receiver.

2. The secure storage system of claim 1, wherein the signal-permeable layer is formed of a polymer, wherein the signal-permeable layer is substantially flush, on an exterior surface of the first shell member, with the metal layer surrounding the first aperture.

3. The secure storage system of claim 1, wherein the first wireless receiver comprises a fingerprint reader, wherein the first signal comprises fingerprint data from a digit of the user attempting to move the shell to the open configuration, wherein the first action comprises causing the locking mechanism to move from the locked position to the unlocked position.

4. The secure storage system of claim 1, wherein the first wireless receiver comprises a radio frequency receiver, the secure storage system further comprises a radio frequency key that emits the first signal, wherein the first signal comprises a radio frequency signal, wherein the first action comprises causing the locking mechanism to move from the locked position to the unlocked position.

5. The secure storage system of claim 1, wherein the first wireless receiver comprises a GPS receiver, wherein the first signal comprises a GPS signal, wherein the first action comprises causing the first notification to be transmitted to the user.

6. The secure storage system of claim 1, further comprising a second wireless receiver within the interior space, wherein the second wireless receiver receives a second signal of a second type different from a first type of the first signal and, in response to receipt of the second signal, initiates a second action selected from the group consisting of causing the locking mechanism to move from the locked position to the unlocked position, and causing a second notification to be transmitted to the user.

7. The secure storage system of claim 6, wherein the metal layer of the first shell member further comprises a second aperture distinct from the first aperture and aligned with the second wireless receiver, wherein the signal-permeable layer further spans the second aperture to enclose the second wireless receiver within the interior space in a manner that permits transmission of the second signal through the second aperture to the second wireless receiver.

8. The secure storage system of claim 1, wherein the shell comprises a first interior surface comprising a first mounting feature, the secure storage system further comprising a holster securable to the first mounting feature, wherein the holster is shaped to receive a handgun.

9. The secure storage system of claim 1, wherein the first shell member comprises a first rim that extends toward the second shell member in the closed configuration and the second shell member comprises a second rim that extends toward the first shell member in the closed configuration, wherein the first rim and the second rim cooperate to define a lap joint comprising an exterior wall and an interior wall that, in the closed configuration, is interior to, parallel to, and directly adjacent to the exterior wall.

10. The secure storage system of claim 9, wherein the locking mechanism is positioned interior to the lap joint and comprises a first lip coupled to the first shell member and a second lip coupled to the second shell member, wherein, in the closed configuration, the first lip abuts the second lip to block motion of the shell to the open configuration, wherein each of the first and second lips extends along a majority of a length of the interior space.

11. The secure storage system of claim 1, wherein the joint comprises a hinge that permits rotation of the first shell member relative to the second shell member, wherein, in the closed configuration, the hinge is enclosed within the interior space.

12. The secure storage system of claim 1, further comprising an opening mechanism coupled to the first shell member and the second shell member to urge the shell to move from the closed configuration to the open configuration.

13. A method for initiating an action in a secure storage system, the method comprising:

transmitting a first signal to the secure storage system, the secure storage system comprising;

a shell having a closed configuration in which the shell defines an interior space generally inaccessible from outside the shell, and an open configuration in which the interior space is accessible;

a locking mechanism within the interior space, the locking mechanism having a locked position in which the locking mechanism restricts motion of the shell to the open configuration, and an unlocked position in which the locking mechanism permits motion of the shell to the open configuration;

a first wireless receiver within the interior space;

passing the first signal through a signal-permeable layer that spans a first aperture formed in a metal layer of the shell, wherein the metal layer comprises a recess, and wherein the signal-permeable layer is positioned within the recess;

receiving the first signal wirelessly in the first wireless receiver; and

in response to receipt of the first signal in the first wireless receiver, initiating a first action selected from the group consisting of causing the locking mechanism to move from the locked position to the unlocked position, and causing a first notification to be transmitted to a user.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first wireless receiver is selected from the group consisting of a fingerprint reader and a radio frequency receiver, wherein receiving the first signal in the first wireless receiver comprises a selection from the group consisting of receiving fingerprint data from a digit of the user attempting to move the shell to the open configuration and receiving a radio frequency signal from a radio frequency key, wherein the first action comprises causing the locking mechanism to move from the locked position to the unlocked position.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the first wireless receiver comprises a GPS receiver, wherein receiving the first signal comprises receiving a GPS signal, wherein the first action comprises causing the first notification to be transmitted to the user.